Clinical Consultation to the Courts

In a variety of criminal and civil cases in Canada and the United States, consultation by Centre staff is available to defendants, complainants, the prosecution, or the court directly. Types of cases in which we have provided assistance include:

criminal trials
youth criminal court trials (see also Youth in Conflict with the Law Assessment Services)
custody and access disputes (see also London Custody and Access Project)
child protection proceedings (see also Child Welfare Assessment Services)
civil litigation for childhood abuse and/or third-party liability

Areas of expertise include:

short- and long-term impact of childood abuse and partner violence
institutional abuse
delayed disclosure of abuse
developmental ability of children to testify
parenting capacity
mental disorder and criminal responsibility
need for testimonial aids and hearsay testimony in cases involving child victims (see also Child Witness Project)
battered women's syndrome

Services available include:

psychological assessment
developmental or cognitive assessment
capacity assessment for children or developmentally delayed adults
literature reviews
consultation
expert testimony

Most services are provided on a fee-for-service basis, however the Ministry of the Attorney General funds the Child Witness Project for expert consultation in cases in Middlesex County involving child witnesses.

For more information or to make a referral, contact Dr. Dan Ashbourne, Director of Clinical Services.